Obinna’s friend, Joshua, was born in 1986, but his was a short life that ended in 2009.
Joshua died at a tender age of 23, leaving a severely poor, widowed mother and four siblings who had no viable means of fending for themselves.
The family lives in Nsokara, Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Obinna, in a late 2017 Facebook post, narrated how he made it a point of duty to visit his late friend’s family in their village, Nsokara, taking little gifts along each time.
The young doctor says after sometime, Joshua’s mother, Mrs. Nworie, wondered aloud if the regular gifts Obinna brought for the family was actually not a repayment for an unstated debt he probably owed his late friend, Joshua.
The young man noted that this was not borne out of malice on the part of Mrs. Nworie, but was rather a pleasant surprise for the bereaved mother that a ‘mere’ friend could be this faithful and kindly to a family of his late friend.
This did not discourage Obinna from being a benefactor, however little, to the Nwories. He explained that Mrs. Nworie was almost going blind with cataract, but their finance — or, lack of it — effectively prevented her from seeking medical help while time ticked for her eyes!
Meanwhile, while Obinna’s post attracted the usual Facebook responses of like, love, etc., one Mr. Nnamdi Ikeagu had a better response.
Ikeagu, whose Facebook timeline indicates that he is a banker, had better idea:
He donated a four-bedroom bungalow to the indigent family!
Mrs. Nworie also received medical attention for her ailing eyes, courtesy of Joshua’s friend, Obinna.
The entire Nsokara village was agog as Obinna unveiled the new house, handing the keys to an ecstatic Mrs. Nworie who felt it was a dream from which she wouldn’t want to wake up.
Obinna Oke took to his Facebook post to thank those who made the house possible, with photos of the event trending on the social media.
Obinna wrote: “I sincerely appreciate all of you who came out yesterday for the dedication and handover of this four-bedroom edifice to Joshua’s family.
“Honestly, we did not expect such a huge number of you. The entire village trooped out to behold the rarest act of benevolence and kindness for a bereft, poor widow by a total stranger, Mr. Nnamdi Ikeagu.”
Obinna also acknowledged Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Polycarp Nworie Chibueze; parish priest of St. Charles’ Catholic Church, Nsokara, Rev. Fr Paulinus Nweke; Rev. Fr Paschal Tochukwu Ekediegwu, who blessed the house and dedicated it to God as the representative of the donor, Mr. Nnamdi Ikeagu.
“Thank you so much Fr Paschal, for driving all the way from Enugu and for all the rigours you passed through to find us. God will continuously bless you,” Obinna prayed.
Writing further, Obinna enthused, “Finally to the ‘saint’, the best of humankind who, single-handed, built this multi-million (naira) magnificent edifice and all therein for Joshua’s family and who provided three times surplus refreshments for all who came, Mr. Nnamdi Ikeagu…
“You turned a family once used as the best example of abject poverty, penury and calamity to a family now envied by all in Nsokara village!
“I want to tell you something, sir. Aside God, you are the messiah, the father, the mother, the brother and the sister that Joshua’s family knows today and would ever know.
“The prayers of Mama, Ukamaka, Jacob and the entire family shall always pour out for you. And so are mine, and indeed the entire village and everyone…
“When asked how she felt, Mama Joshua was trembling. She was terribly shaken. Her lips were smacking. She murmured, producing inaudible sounds. Ukamaka was crying. These are feelings I will not attempt to describe…
“Thanks to all of you who invested in Joshua’s story; all of you who gave, prayed, shared, liked or commented. This sweet end to such a bitter (story) is what I never anticipated. This is the best reward for my writing. I feel so accomplished courtesy of you all especially Nnamdi Ikeagu.
“I know Joshua is happy now and prays for each of you wherever he is. And so is beloved Grace. May their souls continue to rest in peace.
“Please dear friends, always remember this: ‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38.’
